NORTHAMPTON – The City Council unanimously elected prodigal son William H. Dwight its president Tuesday as its newly sworn-in members met for the first time shortly after their inauguration ceremony.

Dwight served four terms on the council before leaving in 2006 to host a local radio show. He tossed his hat back in the ring last year, saying the council post was his most meaningful and exciting job, and was elected to an at large seat. Despite his previous service, Dwight became the newest council member as well as its only new member.

Ward 6 Councilor Marianne L. LaBarge, who nominated Dwight, said she knows how he operates from their time on the council together.

“He’s extremely conscientious” she said. “If we’re going to have debates, we’ll have them on the floor.”

Ward 2 Councilor Paul D. Spector, who seconded the motion, said he talked Dwight into the post, despite his initial objections.

William Dwight

“Bill wasn’t looking to be council president,” Spector said. “He said, ‘No way.’ I was trying to find a council president who could win consensus on the council.”

The council president appoints committees, acts as liaison between the council and the mayor and fills in for the mayor when necessary. Although it had largely been an honorary position, it has taken on added significance in recent years. Mayor David J. Narkewicz assumed the job of mayor last September when Mary Clare Higgins left office early to head a human services agency. Michael R. Bardsley, his opponent in last November’s election, claimed Higgins was giving Narkewicz an advantage by ceding the office to him. Bardsley, also a former council president, filled in for Higgins when she was recovering from surgery.

In accepting the post, Dwight stated his “platform,” which revolved around efficiency and transparency in government.

“That was the mantra in the last election,” he said.

To that end, Dwight proposed holding public session when the council reviews his rules and committee appointments are made. He also promised to meet regularly with Narkewicz and to improve the city’s official website.

“It hasn’t changed since I was a city councilor, but a lot has changed since then,” he said.

Among his proposals are establishing dedicated email addresses for each of the councilors and creating web pages specific to every ward.

In the first rules reform, the council adopted a proposal by Ward 5 Councilor David A. Murphy to hold the public comment portion of its meetings at 7 p.m. instead of 7:15 p.m. Long public comment sessions have often delayed the start of council meetings and extended them late into the night.